Audi’s facility in Brussels, Belgium, is set to halt production next year following unsuccessful efforts to locate a buyer.
This plant, which employs just over 3,000 people, was acquired by Audi from Volkswagen in 2007 and is responsible for manufacturing the Q8 E-Tron as well as its counterpart, the Q8 Sportback E-Tron.
The production of these electric SUVs is scheduled to conclude by February 28, according to a December 12 report from Reuters, which cited an Audi spokesperson.
An Audi USA representative informed Motor Authority that all Q8 E-Trons currently in U.S. inventory are 2024 models. It remains uncertain whether the 2025 model will be available in the U.S., as this hinges on production allocations.
In the summer, Audi initially announced that the Brussels plant faced closure. At that time, the automaker suggested that the Q8 E-Tron might be discontinued prematurely due to sluggish sales, which reached 53,555 units in 2023.
The Q8 E-Tron initially debuted for the 2019 model year in the U.S. under the name E-Tron, before being rebranded to Q8 E-Tron after a mid-cycle refresh for the 2024 model year.
The non-electric gas-powered Q8 is manufactured at a different location and is anticipated to remain in production following the discontinuation of the Q8 E-Tron.
In recent times, Audi has looked into the option of selling the Brussels facility, with some speculation around Chinese EV manufacturer Nio potentially being a buyer; however, Nio has refuted these claims.
The main union representing employees at Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagen Group, cautioned in October that the automaker may be contemplating closing up to three plants in Germany, though no definitive decisions have been reached. Workers are currently on strike as discussions between management and the union are ongoing this week.
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